Computing-scale.



PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905. M. A. DEBS.

COMPUTING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.31,1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

w z mwtot mtorm 13 j No. 808,518. PATBNTED DEC.26,1905. M. A. DEBS.

COMPUTING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED'MAR.31,1903.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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No. 808,518. I PATENTED DEC. 26, 1905.

' M.-A. DEBS.

COMPUTING SCALE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.31,1903.

3 SHEETS'SHEET 3.

attmuwy UNITED STATES Parana oriuon.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1905.

Application filed March 31, 1903. Serial No, 150,486.

the necessary surface upon which may be collected or aggregated the various rows of figures of value which heretofore have been distributed over a series of cylinders. Besides the figures of value the cylinder also contains a circumferential row of price-figures at or near one end, which price-figures are a duplicate of those on a ringsurrounding the cylinder and connected to the weighingpoise, so as to move therewith and at the same time rotate with the cylinder. The

cylinder also contains a circumferential row of figures adjacent the row of price-figures, the numbers of which row are ten times greater than the numbers in the price-row o the same horizontal lines.

The constructions of the beam, poise, and cylinder entering into this invention are such that a number of prices, values, and weights may be concentrated upon a surface or surfaces comprised within comparatively small areas which are capable of being brought always within convenient view of the operator, thereby greatly simplifying, lightening, and cheapening the device while enhancing its efficiency.

The invention also has other objects and advantages, as will hereinafter appear.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my invention; Fig. 2, a plan view of the tilting scale-beam frame and the parts connected therewith; Fig. 3, an end view of the scale looking in the direction of the arrow X, Fig. 1; and Fig. 4, a crosssection of the scale on the line A A, Fig. 1, the platform being shown in elevation. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the graduated scale-beam frame and its poise. Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of prices and values on the rotating cylinder.

Similar reference characters indicate similar parts in the respective figures.

To the base a is bolted a column d, having knife-edge bearingsf, on which is pivoted the scale-beam frame g in a well-known manner. Similar bearings h on the tilting frame 9 sup port the weighing-platform to which platform is attached a downwardly-extending rod 75, pivoted to a bar I) in the base a for re taining the platform in horizontal position whatever the movement of the scale-beam frame maybe.

From each end of the scale-beam frame g a bracket m projects downwardly, terminating in bearings c for the journals of a rotatable value-cylinder n, to be described hereinafter. A scale-beam p, screwed or otherwise fastened to the scale-beam frame 9 above the rotatable cylinder it, carries the part q of a poise q, from which fingers s s extend downwardly and embrace the annular portion or ring 1 of the poise g, which ring slides on the rotatable cylinder n. The annular portion or ring 1" has a circular groove formed therein for the fingers s s, the finger .9 being provided with a forward extension 8 to be grasped by the operator when the poise g is to be moved Hand-wheelsi are fixed to the journals of the cylinder n for convenience in rotating it. The rear longitudinal bar Z of the scale-beam frame g is for convenience graduated and used as a tare-beam, apoise 20 being mounted thereon.

A poise u, mounted on the scale-beam p, is when not in use slid to the extreme left of the scale-beam, as represented in Fig. 1, a stop 0 limiting its backward movement. At tached to the forward end of the poise u is an arm 2), notched, as shown, to engage with a rib t on the poise g and lock the poises together when they are to be moved as one. The weight of the poise u is nine times that of the poise 9, thereby increasing the capacity of the scale ten times. jects from the poise q to form a reading edge. The scale-beam p is provided with two readings within the same length of space, the upper reading 1 being used with the poise q alone and is graduated to two pounds of sixteen ounces each. The lower reading 2, which is used when the poise u is connected to the poise g, is subdivided into twenty parts, each representing one pound, and which may, if desired, be subdivided into halves, quarters, &o. The lower reading therefore represents ten times more weight than the upper reading. l/Vhen the poise u is used, a portion of the upper scale 1 and a part of the finger to is covered by the poise a, the danger of reading A finger w prothe upper scale in place of the lower one being thus avoided. On the scale-beam p, to the right of the readings 1 and 2, are the words Use single poise and Use double poise, respectively, indicating that the poise (1 only is to be used with the reading 1, while with the lower reading 2 the poise a must be connected thereto.

The cylinder n has attached to or formed on its periphery a series of longitudinal ribs 6, projecting radially therefrom, on each side of which ribs and on the surface of the cylinder between them are placed figures indicating the values of articles weighed on the scale at the prices per pound (ranging from onehalf a cent to twelve and one-half dimes) shown on the ring 1" of the poise g, which ring is provided with radial ribs 12, similar to those on the cylinder a. It must be understood that the two rows of figures on. the beam 79 represent pounds and fractions thereof. The figures on the ring r and the rows 0; and y on the cylinder a indicate the prices by the poundof weighable articles, while the remaining figures on the cylinder show the values of certain weights of goods at certain prices per pound. The right-hand end of the cylinder n is encircled by two rows of figures w and y, the row :0 being a duplicate of prices on the ring 1' of the poise q. The use of the figures in the row y will be hereinafter explained. The ring 1" of the poise g is provided with a circumferential row of figures Z, hereinbefore described, and on the reading edge of said ring is placed a row of ciphers.

The arrangement on the cylinder of the values and of the prices per pound. at which articles are sold is clearly indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 6, the cylinder n and its ribs 6 being represented as a plane surface. The double lines A denote the edges of the ribs, the spaces B and C the sides of the ribs, and D the surface of the cylinder a.

The calculations of prices and values on the cylinder n are made on the basis of one dime as a unit. The section E of the diagram contains the numbers indicating values arranged in horizontal rows. The column of figures 00 represent the prices per pound in dimes, while the column y contains the prices per pound in dimes reduced to cents. The figures in the column :0 will, however, under certain conditions represent cents. The numerals of each value-number in section E, it should be observed, are in full lines, except the unit-nun'ierals which are dotted. The full-line numerals will preferably be black but the dotted numerals are to be in red or some other color which will readily distinguish them from the black numerals.

In order to readily find the price-nu1nber on the ring 9 of the poise I place all the j whole numbers serially from l to 12 on the peripheral surface D of said ring 7 between the ribs 12, where they may be quickly j seen by the eye of the operator. The compound fractional price-mnnbers, such as 11-, "23,- &c., will be found in the spaces C on the sides of the ribs 12 adjacent the top of the whole numbers, while the fractional price-numbers 13,, 2-3,, &c.,are in the spaces B below the whole numbers. When a compound fractional price-number is required, the cylinder 12, with the ring 0', is turned until the whole number is seen. The operator then knows that the additional will be found on the rib above the whole number and the additional 1- on the rib below. Upon the side of the rib A opposite that upon which the price-number 12.,- is found is placed the fraction 3,, following which and in consecutive order in the spaces D, B, and C are the compound fractional pricenumbers 1 1-, 2- },&c.,to 8-ff, each following number being greater than the pre ceding one by a whole number. On the remaining spaces of the ring 1" are placed. pricenumbers beginning with 1, and increasing by one-tenth to 2- 2,, which completes the circuit of the ring. The arrangement of the price-numbers just described is clearly shown in the column xof Fig. 6, which, as previously stated, is a duplication. of the price-numbers on the ring 1". The arrangement of the pricenumbers as described is not arbitrary, as changes and variations maybe made, dependent upon the diameter of the cylinder, the number of ribs 12 thereon, the class of business in which the scale is used, and other considerations.

The value-munbers on the section E are obtained by multiplying the weight-numbers on the beam p by the price-numbers on the ring 7' of the poise q.

The operation of my invention, briefly described, is as follows: When the poise g is used alone and the price-numbers on the ring 1" are considered as dimes, if a substance is placed. on the platform j and its weight is shown on the upper reading 1 to be one pound nine ounces and a fraction thereof, in order to find the value of the substance at ten dimes per pound the cylinder 01, is turned until the numeral 1O on the ring 7" is seen by the operator, who then directs his eye to the row of value-numbers in line with the price-number and finds at the reading edge of the ring r the number 160, which indicates that the value of the substance is sixteen dimes or one dollar and sixty cents. Should the value of the same quantity of a commodity be required, the price-numbers in this case being called cents, the value would be sixteen cents, the number in red being omitted. Thus when weighing by the poise Q and considering the price in dimes the value is shown by the black and red figures taken together; but when the price-figures are understood to be cents the black numbers alone are considered. When the value of a weighed article greater than two pounds is required, the poise u is connected to the poise q and the weights taken from the reading 2 on the beam 10. If the article is found to weigh sixteen pounds, the price-numbers in this instance being in cents, the value of the article at ten cents per pound will show on the cylinder to be one dollar and sixty cents; but should the price be in dimes the value is increased ten times, thus raising the amount to sixteen dollars, the adjoining cipher on the ring 7 being read with the value-number. The pricenumbers may, if necessary or desirable, be called mills, and when so considered both poises will be used, as the values when the poise g is employed alone will be too small for practical application. The value-figures when the prices are in mills will be in cents and the black numbers only read.

I do not restrict myself to the exact details of construction, combination, and arrangement herein set forth, it being obvious that minor variations thereof not involving the exercise of invention maybe made by the skilled mechanic, and such de artures from what is herein described and c aimed not involving invention I consider as within the scope and terms of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a computing-scale, the combination with weighing mechanism including a beam and a poise, of a rotatable cylinder having value-numbers thereon, a ring bearing the price-numbers connected to the poise and longitudinally movable on said cylinder, there being a circumferential row of price-numbers on said cylinder, said numbers being a duplicate of those on the ring, and a second row of numbers also on said cylinder, each number of said row being ten times greater than the adjacent number in the firstmentioned row, substantially as set forth.

2. In a computing-scale, the combination with a beam and a poise, of a second poise slidable on said beam and adapted to be connected to the first-mentioned poise for i11- creasing the poise-weight ten times, a rotatable cylinder having value-numb ers thereon, and a ring connected to said first poise and slidably mounted on said cylinder, said ring bearing a circumferential row of price-numbers and a similar row of ciphers near the reading edge of said ring, substantially as set forth.

3. In a computing-scale, the combination with weighing mechanism including a beam and a poise, of a rotatable cylinder having peripheral radial ribs, each rib bearing valuenumbers on each of its sides, the surface of the cylinder between any two ribs also bearing value-numbers, a ring slidable on said cylinder and connected to said poise, and ribs on said ring in line with, and equal in number to, the ribs on said cylinder, said ring and ribs having price-numbers thereon so arranged that the whole numbers are placed on the surface of the ring between the ribs and the compound fractional numbers on the surfaces of the ribs, substantially as set forth.

4. In a computing-scale, the combination with weighing members including a beam and a poise, of a rotatable cylinder having peripheral radial ribs, said cylinder and ribs having value-numbers on their exposed surfaces, and also a row of pricenumbers at or near one end of said cylinder, said price-numbers being so arranged that the whole numbers appear on the face of the cylinder be tween the ribs, and the compound fractional numbers on the surfaces of said ribs, and a slidable ring with ribs having similarly-arranged price-numbers, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.

MARK A. DEES. [L. s.] IVitnesses:

HUGH M. STERLING, C. B. BULLQ 

